Scuba diving in Portland Maru

Portland Maru is located close to Kangaroo Island and is a popular wreck dive site. The sunken Japanese freighter is the largest wreck around here, weighing 5,865 tons. It was built in 1919, sank in 1935, and broke up over the years, leaving 2 large boilers and a steam engine standing tall. The hull lies flat and is covered by corals and sponges. Some of the remains can be penetrated.

When to go

The best time to dive at Portland Maru is from April to June. May to September is the rainy season. The average water temperature is 20-21C/68-70F.

What to see

Portland Maru attracts an abundance of fish, such as triggerfish, boarfish, red snapper, blue devilfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, and barracudas. Other species include decorator crabs, shrimp, nudibranchs, anemones, and lobsters.